Slaughtneil were aggrieved at two late decisions in their semi-final defeat to holders Newbridge, but it is understood they won’t be pursuing a further appeal to the Ulster Council
This weekend’s Derry SFC final will proceed as scheduled after Slaughtneil were unsuccessful in their appeal regarding the outcome of last weekend’s semi-final loss to Newbridge.
A hearing was held by the Derry Central Competitions Committee (CCC) on Tuesday night with Slaughtneil unhappy with two decisions late on in the game by referee Martin McErlain.
Shane McGuigan’s late score was awarded as a one-pointer despite footage suggesting the Derry star had a foot on the arc, meaning it should have been awarded as a two-point score.
As it stood, Mark Doran’s men had a one-point advantage, 1-16 to 0-18.
From the subsequent restart, two Slaughtneil players collided with each other, but Newbridge were awarded a free-kick, which was also brought forward for dissent.
However, Slaughtneil questioned why the free was only brought forward some 30 metres, not 50. Essentially, it meant that Conor Doherty only had one option – to go for a game-winning two-point score.
Had the free been brought forward inside the arc, Doherty might have opted for a one-pointer to tie the game.
It is believed that Slaughtneil felt they had a case based ont he precedent set in Fermanagh when Erne Gaels appealed against the result of the League final after two Derrygonnelly two-pointers were shown to have been scored from well inside the arc.
Despite video evidence supporting their claims regarding McGuigan’s score, Slaughtneil’s appeal was not successful and it is understood that the club won’t be pursuing a further appeal to the Ulster Council.
That means Sunday’s decider between the holders and Magherafelt can go ahead at Celtic Park with the winners then scheduled to take on newly-crowned Antrim champions Dunloy in the preliminary round of the Ulster Club series at the Derry City venue on Saturday, November 1.
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